P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 6-6-14

The Sidney Chamber of Commerce will honor their choices for “Citizen of the Years” & Business of the Years “ tonight. Long time Firefighter Barry Cole was chosen as Citizen of the year, he told WCDO News that he just likes to help people:

(Barry Cole 6-6-14)

Video Entertainment Plus was chosen as the “Business of the Years” Owner Andy Matviak comments:

(Andy Matviak 6-6-14)

The Awards will be given out at tonight’s annual Sidney Chamber Of Commerce dinner at the Sacred Heart Church on Liberty Street starting at 5:30 PM.

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New York State is no longer requiring transgender people, to offer proof of surgery, when asking the state to change the gender on their birth certificate. The state will now issue a new birth certificate, if the person provides an affidavit from a medical provider, stating they have received “appropriate” treatment. The policy change had long been sought by advocates, who say an individual’s official gender, shouldn’t depend on whether they had a medical procedure. Five states have already made similar policy changes.

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Cal Harris, the Tioga County businessman who has been convicted of murdering his wife twice, spoke for the first time in a special interview with CBS. Facing his third trial in the fall, Harris gave his first TV interview to the 48 HOURS program. The interview will air Monday at 10 p.m. Michele Harris went missing the night of Sept. 11th, 2001. Although amidst a bitter divorce, Michele and Cal were living in the same Tioga County home when she vanished after leaving a boyfriend’s house. Harris has been convicted twice of murdering Michele, but both cases have been thrown out on appeal.

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State Troopers arrested 34 year old Craig West of Windsor for 3rd & 4th degree Criminal Mischief 3rd, Disabling Equipment to Prevent Request for Emergency, & 2nd degree Harassment. The arrest resulted from a complaint in Windsor, where West has allegedly engaged in a physical altercation, and smashed a phone that the victim was using to get help from Police, damaged other property and injuring the victims head & jaw. West apprehended and arrested, he was arraigned in the Town of Colesville Court and remanded to the Broome County Jail on bail, an order of protection has been requested against him.

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Greek yogurt maker Chobani has laid off employees at its plant in Chenango County, but has also charted a new direction for growth. Chobani would only say it reduced certain positions at the plant in New Berlin, as well as temporary positions at the facility in Idaho. The local plant will continue to produce for east coast customers, as well as markets in Latin America and the Caribbean. Chobani also opened a new business service center in Norwich.

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National Guard members may soon have the right for memorial headstones, thanks to a push from Rep. Richard Hanna. The House of Representatives passed the Guard Units and Reservists Deserve Remembrance Act. The act allows National Guard and Reserve members, who have served more than six years, to receive a memorial headstone or marker when they pass away. The GUARD Remembrance Act is part of the National Defense Authorization Act. It will head to the Senate for a vote.